Rangers News

Pregame Notes: Rangers vs. Colorado

The Rangers will face-off against the Colorado Avalanche tonight at Madison Square Garden (7:00 p.m.), in their first match-up against a Western Conference opponent this season. The Rangers enter tonight's contest having been defeated by the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3, in overtime on Friday at Madison Square Garden, in their 2010-11 regular season home opener. The Avalanche enter the contest with a 3-2-0 (6 pts) record, including a 2-2-0 mark on their current five-game road trip. Following tonight's contest, the Rangers return to action on Thursday, Oct. 21, when they will face-off against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre (7:00 p.m.), in an Original Six match-up.

Tune In Tonight!Tonight’s game will be televised nationally on Versus. You can also catch the radio broadcast on AM 970 The Apple and on satellite radio at XM 205.

Rangers vs. Avalanche Pre-Game Notes

* The Rangers have won their last two games against the Avalanche, outscoring Colorado, 9-2, over the span.

* Henrik Lundqvist has posted a record of 1-0-1 with a 2.48 goals against average in two career regular season appearances vs. the Avalanche; Martin Biron is 5-4-0 with a 2.76 goals against average in nine career regular season contests vs. Colorado.

* Marian Gaborik led the Rangers in scoring with three goals in one game vs. the Avalanche last season; Marc Staal and Vinny Prospal each tallied a team-high, two assists in last season's meeting vs. Colorado.

* Staal's two assists in last season's meeting vs. the Avalanche marked a career-high for most assists in a single game.

* Marian Gaborik has tallied a team-high, 19 goals and 34 points in 39 career regular season contests vs. Colorado; Alex Frolov has registered 12 assists and 18 points in 24 career regular season games vs. the Avalanche.

* New York lists one former Avalanche on its roster: Chris Drury (1998-99 to 2001-02).

* Vinny Prospal has missed three games with a knee injury and is on Injured Reserve.

* Chris Drury is out with a broken finger, suffered on Oct. 15, and is on Injured Reserve.

* Marian Gaborik is out with a shoulder injury, suffered on Oct. 15, and is on Injured Reserve.

Highlights from HartfordFollow the progress of the Rangers' top prospects:

The Wolf Pack’s first road action of the season produced five out of a possible six points over the weekend, as the Pack posted two wins and a shootout loss. Friday night found the Wolf Pack in Albany (New Jersey affiliate), and the Devils scored a shootout win in the matchup, by a final score of 3-2. Saturday’s visit to Bridgeport (Islanders affiliate) saw the Wolf Pack pull out a 2-1 victory, and then the Pack registered its first shutout since last November 14 on Sunday in Providence, blanking the Bruins by a score of 3-0 despite being outshot by a margin of 41-18. With the 2-0-0-1 slate over the weekend, the Wolf Pack has now gained at least a standings point in four of its five games on the season (3-1-0-1), going into a stretch that sees them play five straight at home. Three East-Division opponents visit the XL Center this week, with the Norfolk Admirals (Tampa Bay affiliate) invading on Wednesday (7:00), Binghamton (Ottawa affiliate) coming to town on Friday (7:00) and the Wolf Pack hosting the Syracuse Crunch (Anaheim affiliate) on Saturday (7:00)

* Tim Kennedy registered his first Wolf Pack point with an assist Saturday night in Bridgeport, and scored his first goal in a Pack uniform in Sunday’s 3-0 win in Providence.

* Kris Newbury posted the Wolf Pack’s first three-assist game of the season on Sunday in Providence, garnering a Third-Star nod in the Pack’s 3-0 win. He leads the Pack in points with seven, all assists, through the first five games and is tied for second in the AHL in assists.

* Wade Redden scored his first career minor-pro goal in Friday’s 3-2 shootout loss at Albany. Is the only Wolf Pack player with at least a point in each of the season’s first five games (1-5-6) and is tied for second among AHL defensemen in points.

* Cam Talbot became the first Wolf Pack goaltender ever to post a shutout in his first pro start, when he blanked the Providence Bruins 3-0 on the road on Sunday, making 41 saves in a game in which the Wolf Pack were outshot by a margin of 41-18.

* Jeremy Williams tallied PPG in Saturday’s victory in Bridgeport, then notched a goal and an assist on Sunday in Providence (Second Star in a 3-0 win). Has a team-leading three goals through the first five games.

* Mats Zuccarello scored his first North-American pro goal, and point, in Friday’s 3-2 shootout loss at Albany, and then netted GWG Saturday at Bridgeport with 4:58 remaining in the third period.